You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?! Illustrated by Andre Carrilho Random House (Schwartz & Wade), 2009
2009 Booklist Children’s Editor’s Choice 2009 Booklist Top of the List 2009 Kirkus Best Book 2009 Parents Magazine Best Book 2010 ALA Notable Children’s Book 2010 Sydney Taylor Honor Book 2010 NCSS/CBC Notable Children’s Book in Social Studies IRA/CBC Children’s Choice Cooperative Children’s Book Council Choices selection New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
THREE STARRED REVIEWS...!
* “Hand this book to kids unconvinced by Koufax’s mind-boggling numbers, or to the ones who know why they’re so mind boggling to begin with.” (Booklist, starred review) Read the review.>
* “Not just a home run, this book is a grand slam.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) Read the review.>
*“A real treat…. This striking book deserves a wide audience.” (School Library Journal, starred review)
“It’s immediately accessible, the narrator instantly greeting us – skipping the niceties and getting right to it – ushering us quickly onto the ball field…. As SLJ put it, [Jonah Winter] distilled a complex person’s life into a 32-page children’s picture book. Not an easy task, but I’d say this is a home run.” (Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast) Read the review.>
“Great baseball stuff, and a visual treat for young fans and their parents and grandparents.” (Kirkus Reviews) Read the review.>
“If the mesmerizing lenticular cover doesn’t grab readers’ attention for this baseball biography, then the persuasive voice of the narrator will.” (Cooperative Children’s Book Council)
“Author Jonah Winter and illustrator Andre Carhillo have created an entertaining book for kids and adults with this heartfelt tribute to perhaps the greatest left-handed pitcher in baseball history." (The American Jewish World)
“Sandy Koufax may have been the strikeout king of baseball, but if you ask me Jonah Winter’s the current strikeout king of the non-fiction picture book set. Examine this man’s 2009 year alone. This guy’s juggling a bio of Sandy Koufax alongside of Gertrude Stein… with enough time to spare to give a tip of the hat to, of all people, Gilbert and Sullivan…. No two books sound alike. No two books look alike. Really the only thing they have in common is that they’re fabulous. The man’s on fire and I’ll level anybody who tries to put that fire out…. You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?! is a class act from start to finish. It is everything a biography for a young reader should be. (School Library Journal blog) Read the review.>
“You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?! is a book of astonishing beauty. I think it may be the most gorgeous book for children I’ve ever seen…. Author Jonah Winter is becoming the sports writer for the under 11 set.” (January Magazine) Read the review.>
“A resonant work about persistence and comebacks that will be well appreciated by kids of any background who need to try, try, try again.” (Planetesme blog)
“An inspiring tale of persistence, power, poise, and prevalent potential….” (Just One More Book, podcast review). Read the review.>
